Celebrations call for a good drop - and Eden Road Wines may be able to help you out with that.
Murrumbateman's Eden Road Wines cleaned up at the Australian Highlands Wine Show on Thursday evening.
The Canberra region winery walked away with the Best Wine in Show, Best Shiraz in Show and the Best Red in Show for its 2019 Cullarin Block 71 Syrah.
The wine was made with grapes from the Cullarin vineyard at Lake George Winery, which was established in 1971 by the father of the Canberra wine industry Edgar Riek.
"At Lake George compared to here at Murrumbateman, it's a bit of a cooler site, so we didn't suffer so much during the hot days and the drought," Eden Road Wines' Celine Rousseau said.
"Those vines are very old and they are on their own roots, with no irrigation. So it does make a difference for the grapes at the end.
"But it's great to enter national wine shows, such as this one ... to basically gauge where you are quality-wise, compared to other Australian wines."
Open to all Australian wines made from grapes grown at above 500 metres in altitude, The Australian Highlands Wine Show is run by The Southern Highlands Food and Wine Association. The region is renowned for premium, cool climate pinot, chardonnay, riesling and sauvignon blanc.
Local wines fared well in this year's show, attracting 23 bronze, 11 silver and 6 gold medals.
"Quality overall was very high this year. The trophy wines were an impressive set that were very exciting to see. The Best Wine in Show was a standout," judge Toni Paterson said.
"It shows what happens when a top winemaker has stunning fruit to work with. Classy, refined and concentrated, with real personality and distinction. Celine Rousseau is a brilliant winemaker."
As for the other categories, Best White Wine in Show went to Mudgee's Robert Stein Winery for its 2021 Half Dry Riesling.
Taking 'new wave' grape varieties to new heights, a 2021 Vermentino, by First Ridge Wines from Mudgee, was awarded Best other White Wine Varietal in Show, while a 2021 Fossil Hill Barbera, from Angullong Wines at Orange, won Best Other Red Variety in Show. Angullong also took Best Sauvignon Blanc in Show for its 2021 vintage.
Orange made a strong showing with Cooks Lot taking trophies for three wines; Best Pinot Gris in Show for its 2021 Allotment 666, Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show for its Lemon Villa 2019, and Best Red Wine Blend in Show for its Lemon Villa 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot.
Swooping in with Best Rosé in Show was a 2021 On The Fly Rosé, from Mount Tumbarumba Vineyards.
